The Trojan Wallhttps://thetrojanwall.net
Student News Site of Paradise Valley High SchoolFri, 29 Mar 2019 17:25:00 -0700en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.1Healthy Eating Tips For Busy Studentshttps://thetrojanwall.net/2939/op-ed/healthy-eating-tips-for-busy-students/
https://thetrojanwall.net/2939/op-ed/healthy-eating-tips-for-busy-students/#respondFri, 29 Mar 2019 17:25:00 +0000https://thetrojanwall.net/?p=2939As teens with busy schedules it can be hard to eat healthy. Preparing nutritious meals is more time consuming than stopping for fast food on your way home, or to school. Here are some tips to implement healthy eating easily within your day.

Start your day by not skipping breakfast. I’m aware some reading this don’t like to eat super early, so if your first period teacher will allow eating in their classroom – do so. What’s best to eat for that type of situation?: A small portion of fruit, granola, a protein bar, or greek yogurt, which can be high in protein. If you have time to eat at home, make oatmeal, which lowers cholesterol, or scrambled eggs. Eggs are high in protein and have vitamin B12.

For lunch, make it the night before; allowing yourself more time in the morning. I suggest a smoothie. Pack it with green vegetables that contain calcium and iron. If you don’t like the taste of vegetables, then conceal it with your favorite fruit, and honey for sweetness. Salads with dressings that aren’t loaded with fat are also good options.

Finally, dinner time! I suggest making something at home. Pasta with tomato sauce, vegetables, and a choice of protein (chicken, sausage, or beans) is an easy, inexpensive option. If you don’t have time or energy to cook, choose a “fast casual” dining option like Panera Bread or Chipotle. Although both can be high in calories, these establishments have healthier options, than popular fast food chains.

As someone with curly/coily hair, I get many questions about it. I can’t speak for everyone whose has my hair texture, or something similar to it, but I can answer the questions I get the most about it.

It it all mine?

Most of the time – yes. When it’s in cornrows, my salonist adds extension to the real stuff, so the style looks neat for a longer period of time. In the photo that is attached to this article, all the hair your see grew from my scalp.

Can I touch it?

Nope, especially if I don’t know you that well, or at all. It makes me uncomfortable, but at least you asked first – most folks don’t.

How do y0u wash your hair?

With shampoo, no matter the state it’s in. It takes a long time to lather in my scalp though.

How long is it?

When my hair is in its natural (curly) state it grazes my shoulder. My hair stops at the middle of my back when it’s straightened.

How long does it take to style?

My salonist can put cornrows on my hair in under an hour and a half. She can straighten it in an hour. Doing my own hair takes three hours. I have to oil my scalp, comb cream through the tangles, and put it all in tiny braids, so it doesn’t tangle again.

Do you like it?

Of course I do! Do I get frustrated with my curls constantly? Yeah. It’s a lot to manage, but I’m grateful for the privilege of having a head full of hair.

I (Nicole Willis) had the opportunity to interview three PVHS students about their taste in music. I found that students from a variety of backgrounds had interesting things to say about what they listen to, and why they do so. I had a chance to listen to some of the songs they mentioned, and was not disappointed.

I first interviewed a cheerleader, on the yearbook committee, who’s in her junior year of high school.

TTW: What’s your name?

BM: “Britton Maranto.”

TTW: Are you involved in any extracurriculars at PVHS?

BM: “Cheer and Link Crew!”

TTW: What’s your favorite genre of music? Why?

BM: “Alternative pop mostly. Because I like the groovy, but upbeat songs that aren’t super mainstream.

TTW: Does the music your parents listen to have an affect on your music taste? What do your parents music listen to?

TTW: What’s your favorite song that wasn’t released in this century, why?

“ “At Last” by Etta James. She has such a soulful, luscious voice & the composition is so rich with a unique style. I love hearing an orchestra in popular music. The song just hits in a different way.”

TTW: What is one of your favorite sad songs, why?

“One of my favorite sad songs is “Impossible” by Shontelle, because it’s one of those songs that you can belt at the top of your lungs.”

TTW: Is music an important part of your life? In what way does it affect you?

“Music is something that defines me as a person. It’s in my family, everyone sings, or plays an instruments, and it makes me feel blessed to be able to experience it and share it with others.”

TTW: Someone hands you aux cord – what song do you play first, why?

“An early 2000’s hit, because everyone will know it- we’ll all be dancing, singing to a bop, and we’ll connect on a nostalgic level.”

The “Staff of the Month” for March is Mr. Stiles. He is loved around campus by everyone who has had his class, and everyone who’s had the chance to interact with. The Trojan Wall is very excited to post this interview we had the teacher.

TTW: What do you teach, and how long have you been teaching at PVHS?

I teach Biology and Honors Biology. This is currently my 6th year here at PV, the greatest school ever.

TTW: What’s your favorite thing about teaching and why?

My favorite thing about teaching is the students, and there are many reasons why. One, I learn from the students just as much as they learn from me. Two, I know I won’t make a difference in the life of every student that enters my classroom, but I will for some, and that is the best thing ever about teaching. Three, I feel like I can make a positive difference in the lives of some students, and if not, maybe I can make them smile, and that’s worth it. Four, I get to tell my really bad jokes and they are forced to listen to them.

TTW: If you weren’t teaching what would your occupation be. Why?

My first degree is actually in theatre, so I would probably be doing something with that. Either that or, maybe something to do with the environment and keeping it safe and sustainable.

TTW:How do you hope to impact students that come through your classroom?

My hope is that they see my class as a safe place to be, to learn, and to grow. More than that though, I just want to be something positive in their lives. A good, positive role model for those who don’t have too many in their lives. A shining light for those who need it. Someone that they feel comfortable coming and talking to, and someone who can make them smile and make their day just a little better. My other hope is that I can inspire them. Not necessarily in biology, but in life in general. Inspire them to make a positive difference in this world. Inspire them to know that they are worth something, that they matter, and that they’re important; and to let them know that someone does care about them. I do also hope that I can impact all the students on this campus in this way, not just the ones that are in my classroom.

There is nothing like the bond between a dog and their human, a bond that can never be broken. However, there are times when dogs transcend the simple owner-dog bond and go on to inspire more than just their special humans.

Chi Chi, a golden retriever owned by PVHS Student, Megan Howell, was one of those special dogs.

“She always had a smile on her face, even when she had no reason to smile,” Megan, a Freshman, said of her favorite thing about her dog. Sadly, Chi Chi passed away on February 4, 2019 from health complications.

However, her legacy of therapy work and her inspirational life story will always live on forever as a testament to a dog’s ability to love and heal, to forgive and to forget.

Chi Chi’s life had a rough start, as she was abandoned in a trash bag in South Korea, her legs tied up so tight that they were already necrotized (dead). In order to save her life, veterinarians had to amputate portions of all four of her legs, some more than others. The Howells, seeing her online from an organization that they were affiliated with, immediately wanted to adopt her.

“My mom fell in love, inquired, and brought her home,” Megan said.

The rescue organization flew Chi Chi, after her surgery, from South Korea to Los Angeles and then drove Chi Chi to her new forever home with the Howells.

Chi Chi then spent the rest of her life in care of the Howells and did work as a therapy dog in Arizona. The Howells had to take care of Chi Chi’s many medical issues and have custom prostheses made for her legs in order to give her the most comfort and mobility available. The Howells and Megan were also not able to take vacations because the amount of care required, “..made it difficult to to find someone to care for her needs.”

Megan says that her family has had several therapy dogs before and that her mother always planned for Chi Chi to be a therapy dog if possible. Happily, Chi Chi’s temperament was perfect for working in therapy. She was a recognized face around the Valley and earned the 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Award for being a Therapy Dog.

“I was not Chi Chi’s main handler, but I did go to the library with her for the reading program several times,” Megan said.

Chi Chi’s determination and resilience inspired the Howell family constantly. In fact, Megan’s favorite memory of Chi Chi was after the dog received her prosthetics and the family was getting ready for the day. She heard several loud sounds while she was getting ready and immediately went to the stairs. There was Chi Chi coming up the stairs for the first time! Megan said, “She just wanted to to be with us and not downstairs by herself.” The determination that Chi Chi showed was one of the traits that Megan says allowed Chi Chi to live life to the fullest.

“She taught me and other people not to give up and to love abundantly,” Megan said about Chi Chi’s impact on her, “…She had so many different aspects and connected with so many different people.”

Chi Chi’s impact on both the Howell’s and the world can be taken a lesson for all of us to learn. Forgiveness, charity, and to never give up.

Everyone needs a nap. You need a nap. Your teacher needs a nap. Katy Perry especially needs a nap. A nap has never been needed all over the world but unfortunately, that’s where we are now.

Keeping up with “social norms”, waking up extra early just to fall back asleep in first block, and joining clubs just to beef up your resume has finally caught up with us. And let me tell you, this is why everyone is being so mean to each other. You’re also probably hungry, so go eat a Snickers because “You’re not you when you’re hungry”. AND GO TAKE A NAP.

If we all just paused the reality show: “Keeping Up With Society”, and took a nap I’m sure a lot of first world problems could be solved. For example, according to The Business Insider, “Total spend for Black Friday weekend reach[ed] roughly $59.6 billion”! But there are still homeless people on the streets begging for basic survival items? And there are places on Earth that don’t have a regular access to clean water? I mean, how does that make any sense? But if our minds were refreshed from a nice nap, then I’m sure people’s very narrow mindset would be widened. Then, they would be able to see how wasteful they are being and how they are taking their first world conveniences for granted.

Take a minute and think about all the people in your life that do something for you. It doesn’t have to be somebody you know personally, but just close your eyes (maybe take a nap while you’re at it) and think. Now, how many of them have you actually told “thank you” or “I appreciate you”? I bet not very many. Open your minds to realize that you are being selfish. Go and thank them. Make it a habit to say “thank you” regularly and while we are listening to me, go take a nap.

I am very sure that prevalent problems in society, like bullying, would decline if we took a break from everyone and the world. But, I am still in the first world mindset that most of society lives in. If I expand just a bit, the issues get even worse. “There are 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today.” Shocking right? I didn’t know that slavery still existed today, but that’s only because it’s just getting swept underneath the ‘Blockhead Carpet’ of society. Thanks to an investigation from Dosomething.org, “Nearly ½ of the world’s population – more than 3 billion people – live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1.3 billion live in extreme poverty…” But over $200 is spent annually on lottery tickets. This is ridiculous! Take a nap and dream about how to use your money wisely- help other people out!

We just need to take a nap. Something as simple as a nap. It doesn’t have to be a long nap either, just something to clear our minds. It is crucial that people start to widen their view and see that there are so many things that need to be fixed. Because if we don’t, we will cause our own downfall.

]]>https://thetrojanwall.net/2913/op-ed/take-a-nap/feed/0Caution: Pop Tarts are Hazardoushttps://thetrojanwall.net/2895/op-ed/caution-pop-tarts-are-hazardous/
https://thetrojanwall.net/2895/op-ed/caution-pop-tarts-are-hazardous/#respondThu, 07 Feb 2019 17:14:38 +0000https://thetrojanwall.net/?p=2895 My entire life I have loved Pop Tarts. My top two flavors are (warmed) strawberry and cookies ‘n’ cream. However, my family is insanely healthy as my parents only buy organic and gluten free food products. As a result of this, we don’t get that tasty treat very often, but one week is dedicated annually to unhealthy food. That week is also known as the Memorial Day Weekend Family Camping Trip.

I remember the camping trip when I was seven years old very specifically because of the delicious breakfast snack that my mom bought in bulk from Costco. Thankfully there was extra, so the unhealthy living extended it’s stay for about another week. We were finally down to the last package of Strawberry Pop Tarts. I woke up extra early that morning just to make sure I could secure my ‘dibs’ on breakfast. Unfortunately for later events, I was too excited to wait and forgot to take the food out of the tin foil wrapping. I placed the whole thing into the microwave and selected the 1 minute button. Thankfully, because of my weird habit of watching my food cook in the microwave, I saw something extraordinary: a lightning bolt! Then all of a sudden, the smell of smoke started to fill the kitchen. Obviously something was wrong, but I just couldn’t figure it out. My older brother came to the rescue. I’ve never seen him run that fast in my entire life. He flew down the stairs straight into the kitchen, identified where the smoke was coming from, and immediately stopped the warming process. If he hadn’t moved that fast, I’m very sure that the kitchen would have burn scars to this very day.

But don’t worry, I still got to have my Pop Tart, but because my brother saved the house, I gave him the second one.

The purpose of me sharing one of my most idiotic stories is to warn everyone how dangerous Pop Tarts can be. Besides that fact that they contain so much sugar, can help cause diabetes and cholesterol issues, they also help start fires! So when you walk down the grocery store aisle and you see Pop Tarts, buy at your own risk.

Mrs. Reuben is the best AP European teacher at PV! Although, she has only been teaching here for 3 years, she has made a giant impact on her students. The reason Mrs. Reuben is so impactful is because she wants to teach. She chose to teach history, specifically, because of her love for the subject. Mrs. Reuben hopes to pass on her love of history to the students here at PV. She thinks that the reason students learn so well in her class is thanks to the block schedule “because is gives [her] more of an opportunity to interact with the best part of PV: the students!”

If you’ve ever been in her class, you know she does not take herself too seriously, which is another key factor as to why students grow so much in room 208. When asked to describe herself in three words, she responded with “funny, compassionate, and easy-going”; however, she also said that “Mr. Reuben would disagree with easy-going.” Turns out, students aren’t the only ones who act differently at school than at home!

Mrs. Reuben has loads of PV PRIDE, not only does she dress up for spirit weeks, she also has a favorite part of the popular acronym: “Do”. She wants students to start “do[ing] their work!” But, in a less academic sense, Mrs. Reuben wants her students to “Take action and make a difference!” She is right, people need to stop daydreaming and actually make a plan to impact the world the best way they can!

The journalism team picked Mrs. Reuben to be the Staff of the Month for February because of her school spirit, eagerness to teach, and making her classroom an uber fun learning environment.

The “Student of the Month” must be passing all their classes, show school PRIDE, be involved in at least one extracurricular, express leadership capabilities, have minimal absences, and not have a suspension on their high school record.

Peyton Gallaga is a junior, who meets all those requirements. Miss Gallaga was nominated by Mrs. Gamboa, the dance teacher, for February’s “Student of the Month.”

Mrs. Gamboa said, “Peyton Gallaga is a true leader. She always volunteers for extra work and helps in the dance department. Peyton also has choreographed for our Boy Ballerinas group. Peyton is a pleasure to have in class.”

Arielle Leiser, the Costume Head, for the Diary of Anne Frank makes the “Star of David” patches.

The Trojan Wall recently had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Carina Stiles and Bella Santoni. They are involved with The Diary of Anne Frank (play), which is being produced by Paradise Valley Theatre Company. The play is being shown in the Black Box, which also services as the drama classroom.

Amelia Dellaripa interviewed Bella Santoni, who is portraying Anne Frank in Paradise Valley Theatre Company’s The Diary of Anne Frank. Bella Santoni is a sophomore; involved in the CREST program. She is also PVTC’s Captain Thespian.

TTW: Why did you audition for this play?

BS: When I auditioned I wasn’t going for a particular role. I wanted to make it (my audition) as dynamic as possible. Then let director decide (to cast me). When I got the script, and did the first read through, I realized just how challenging this role would be.

TTW: What have you found most difficult about portraying Anne Frank?

BS: -the pressure of portraying a real person, who has passed, and is such an important figure – I read her actual diary and looked more into her life. I just used the resources I had available to portray her as accurately as possible.

TTW: Do you relate to Anne Frank – how so, or why?

BS: I think of her as someone I’d like to be- her distinctive optimism, she always looked for good things to happen, which is what makes her story so heartbreaking.

TTW: Has participating in this play had any kind of emotional impact on you – please elaborate?

BS: It has given me a deeper understanding of the endurance humans can have, and the tragedy of the Holocaust. It’s been very emotionally taxing to portray her story in rehearsals everyday to my full ability.

Nicole Willis interviewed Mrs. Stiles, the drama teacher at PVHS, who is producing and directing The Diary of Anne Frank. This is Mrs. Stiles’ second year as a drama teacher, she is also the school’s swim team coach.

TTW: What made you wanna produce The Diary of Anne Frank?

CS: I think it’s a fabulous show. Our last show season was very comedic, so I wanted to give audiences a variety in genres this year. Last year there was an incident at PV involving a swastika, which showed how desensitized some kids are to this subject material. I hope the audiences become educated to the subject matter and realize how serious the Holocaust was.

TTW: Why do you want students to see this show?

CS: The show has a powerful message. The actors are great, so are the technicians. The production value is also great. After seeing The Diary of Anne Frank, I want the audience to feel that they have seen something important.

TTW: What’s your favorite technical aspect of the show, why?

I’d have to say sound- it makes the show. The characters are in hiding, so they can’t make sound. The actors don’t wear shoes, which is a rare occurrence in stage productions. The show depends on sound, it progresses the show, and makes the plot understandable. I also think lighting, set design, costumes, props, and the many other technical aspects are quality, too.

TTW: What are the showtimes and on what days? How much does admission cost?

Admission is five dollars. The show opens on February 7th at 7:00 P.M. with a final show on the 9th at 7:00 P.M. We have a matinee on the 8th at 3:00 P.M., along with a showing at 7:00 P.M. that day.